Marches mark Thanksgiving in Plymouth

Two marches on Thanksgiving tell different stories of Pilgrim history. Both are free.

The Pilgrims Progress began in 1920 to celebrate the 51 colonists who survived the first winter in Plymouth and remember those who died.

It starts 10 a.m. on Leyden Street with re-enactors walking to the beat of a drum to Burial Hill for prayers and hymns. The group returns via North Street to Main Street before disbanding. The event lasts about an hour.

Onlookers are invited to march along with the group and stand with them during the praying and singing on Burial Hill.

As the Progress march winds down, United American Indians of New England and their supporters gather on Coles Hill for National Day of Mourning ceremonies.

The group considers the traditional Thanksgiving holiday a “day of mourning” to mark the sufferings of native people at the hands of English settlers.

The group gathers on Cole’s Hill at noon for songs, speeches and dances and then marches through downtown and Water Street ending at Plymouth Rock.